FBI: Couple suspected in Ocala, other bank robberies

Published: Tuesday, November 12, 2013 at 5:30 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, November 12, 2013 at 5:30 p.m.

Government officials say they have evidence they believe links a Tampa couple to more than a dozen bank robberies in two states over a 10-month span, including one in Ocala.

Immanuel and Cara Williams, both 28, were apprehended Thursday by authorities at their Tampa residence. Each made their initial appearance in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Anthony E. Porcelli on Friday in Tampa. He remains in jail with no bond; she has a bond hearing slated for Thursday in Tampa. Each was charged with conspiracy to obstruct, delay, or affect commerce by robbery and conspiracy to commit bank robbery. If convicted, each faces 20 years in federal prison.

A 17-page report written by Joseph M. Boland, a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, states that 13 banks within the Middle District of Florida, and two banks in Alabama, were robbed and $54,740 was stolen. The most taken from one location was $9,880, from MidFlorida Credit Union in Davenport.

One of the robberies was at the BBVA Compass Bank at 2620 SW 19th Ave. Road, Ocala, on Oct. 15. Within an hour, the CenterState Bank at 114 West Belt Ave. in Bushnell also was robbed by a suspect wearing the same disguise as in the Ocala heist. The amount stolen between those two banks was $6,960.

Investigators contend that most of the robberies were committed by Immanuel Williams, who was described by witnesses as a black male approximately 6-feet tall who weighed about 200 pounds. Officials said during the commission of the robberies, he wore long-sleeved shirts, a hat or some type of wig, tape on his hands and fingers to cover a scar, or gloves.

His wife is believed to have committed a robbery Nov. 4 at the Trinity Bank in Dothan, Ala., while wearing a disguise, officials said.

In two of the robberies, officials said notes passed by Immanuel Williams stated that he had a gun; in other cases, he indicated he had a gun. In none of the cases, however, was a firearm ever shown. No one was injured in any of the cases, officials added.

During the Ocala robbery, the robber handed a note to a teller implying he had a weapon and telling her to give him money and not make a scene. After receiving some cash, the man casually strolled out of the bank and then ran, according to local reports.

Authorities handling the cases said they recovered some of the notes passed to tellers, which were written in black block lettering on pink or yellow index cards. Sometimes certain words were underlined and others had exclamation marks. The notes state this is a bank robbery, there's a gun, be quiet, be fast, hand over 20s, 50s and 100s, and no alarms.

The getaway vehicles were a 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 sport utility vehicle and a 2012 Ford Mustang, both registered to Cara Williams.

During their investigation, investigators obtained cellphone records that showed the two were within close proximity of the banks that were robbed.

From their investigation, officials said, they determined that a hat worn in two robberies was given to Immanuel Williams at the Hard Rock Seminole Casino in Tampa, where he was a patron.

The last of the 13 robberies took place Nov. 6 at the Alabama Credit Union in Gulf Shores, Ala. Officials believe it was committed by Immanuel Williams, based on witness descriptions of the man and the things he was wearing.

<p>Government officials say they have evidence they believe links a Tampa couple to more than a dozen bank robberies in two states over a 10-month span, including one in Ocala.</p><p>Immanuel and Cara Williams, both 28, were apprehended Thursday by authorities at their Tampa residence. Each made their initial appearance in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Anthony E. Porcelli on Friday in Tampa. He remains in jail with no bond; she has a bond hearing slated for Thursday in Tampa. Each was charged with conspiracy to obstruct, delay, or affect commerce by robbery and conspiracy to commit bank robbery. If convicted, each faces 20 years in federal prison.</p><p>A 17-page report written by Joseph M. Boland, a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, states that 13 banks within the Middle District of Florida, and two banks in Alabama, were robbed and $54,740 was stolen. The most taken from one location was $9,880, from MidFlorida Credit Union in Davenport.</p><p>One of the robberies was at the BBVA Compass Bank at 2620 SW 19th Ave. Road, Ocala, on Oct. 15. Within an hour, the CenterState Bank at 114 West Belt Ave. in Bushnell also was robbed by a suspect wearing the same disguise as in the Ocala heist. The amount stolen between those two banks was $6,960.</p><p>Investigators contend that most of the robberies were committed by Immanuel Williams, who was described by witnesses as a black male approximately 6-feet tall who weighed about 200 pounds. Officials said during the commission of the robberies, he wore long-sleeved shirts, a hat or some type of wig, tape on his hands and fingers to cover a scar, or gloves.</p><p>His wife is believed to have committed a robbery Nov. 4 at the Trinity Bank in Dothan, Ala., while wearing a disguise, officials said.</p><p>In two of the robberies, officials said notes passed by Immanuel Williams stated that he had a gun; in other cases, he indicated he had a gun. In none of the cases, however, was a firearm ever shown. No one was injured in any of the cases, officials added.</p><p>During the Ocala robbery, the robber handed a note to a teller implying he had a weapon and telling her to give him money and not make a scene. After receiving some cash, the man casually strolled out of the bank and then ran, according to local reports.</p><p>Authorities handling the cases said they recovered some of the notes passed to tellers, which were written in black block lettering on pink or yellow index cards. Sometimes certain words were underlined and others had exclamation marks. The notes state this is a bank robbery, there's a gun, be quiet, be fast, hand over 20s, 50s and 100s, and no alarms.</p><p>The getaway vehicles were a 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 sport utility vehicle and a 2012 Ford Mustang, both registered to Cara Williams.</p><p>During their investigation, investigators obtained cellphone records that showed the two were within close proximity of the banks that were robbed.</p><p>From their investigation, officials said, they determined that a hat worn in two robberies was given to Immanuel Williams at the Hard Rock Seminole Casino in Tampa, where he was a patron.</p><p>The last of the 13 robberies took place Nov. 6 at the Alabama Credit Union in Gulf Shores, Ala. Officials believe it was committed by Immanuel Williams, based on witness descriptions of the man and the things he was wearing.</p><p><i>Contact Austin L. Miller at 867-4118 or austin.miller@starbanner.com.</i></p>